Dispensing device



Oct. 7, 1941.

L. M. HARVEY DISPENSING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1938 JEIE.

Oct. 7, I941. HARVEY 2,258,358

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z2 1 H31 .r-

27 V w 3/ 30 L24 Z9 20 4e 37 49 -13 i w 45 65 7 /2 5; a I I T 37 15 73 /9 for Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STAT ES PATENT "()FFICE.

DISPENSING DEVICE Leo M. Harvey, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,445

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing device and relates more'particularly to a device for dispensing paper towels and similar sheet material articles. to provide a simple, practical and economical device for dispensing paper towels and the like.

The persons operating the paper towel dis- Densing devices in public lavatories, etc. usuallyhave wet hands when they engage the towels to withdraw them from the cabinets. The moisture on the hands is transferred to and absorbed- Jby the portion of the towel grasped by the user and often softens and weakens the towel. In many instances the softened towel tears or parts in the users hands before he is able to withdraw the towel from the cabinet, and considerable difficulty is sometimes encountered in obtaining the torn or parted towel.

An important object of this invention is to provide a towel dispensing device that ejects a folded or double-thickness part of the towel that may be grasped and pulled by wet hands Without failing, parting or tearing. The folded double-thickness portion of the towel ejected from the device of the present invention has sufficient strength .to withstand a substantial pull and has increased water absorbing capabilitiesfso that it does not part when grasped and pulled by wet hands.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide .a dispensing device-of the character referred to that is operable by a single, simple manipulation of one operating part to project or expel .a portion; .of. a towel .or sheet material article for! convenient engagement :and removal by the user. i

:Another .object of this invention is to provide .a dispensing device that cannot be repeatedly operated in rapid succession to obtain .a number .of towels er -sheet material articles. .Anotherobject of this invention is to provide .a;;dispensing :device'of the character mentioned that embodies a novel :and effective retarding or time delay 111183118 associated with the ejecting mechanism to prevent theejection of thetowels or articles in rapid succession and thus prevent the needless "and wasteful removal of a plurality of towels or articles. "The users of ftowel cabinet's' providediinpublic lavatories, and the like, often operate the cabinets to obtain more towels thanfiiecessary and rapidly deplete the supplies of towels in .the cabinets. The device of the present invention embodies a practical, dependable time. delay means that .makes it necessary A general object of this invention is for the user to wait a given .period:between :each towel ejecting operation, to deter the user from attempting to obtain more towels than actually required.

Another object of this invention'is to provide a dispensing device of the character referred to in which .the time delay means retards the return of the ejector during the second or final phase of its return stroke andallows the rapid and immediate return of the ejector through the first phase of its return stroke so that the ejector is immediately withdrawn and concealed returned independently of .the ejecting mechamsm.

Another ,object of this invention is to provide a towel cabinet ordispensing device ,of the char- .acter mentioned that embodies .a novel and effective means for maintaining the sheet articles or towels centralized and in the correct relation (for ejection by the .ejecting mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing device or towel cabinet in which the operating button or .handle is automatically cleansed and wiped dry by the towel as the towel is withdrawn from the device; so that the handle is in a dry, sanitary condition at the termination of each operation :of the device.

Another object of this invention jisto provide .a dispensing device or towelcabinet of the character .re'ferredto in which actuation of the han- :dle prior to thereturn .of the=ejector to the end of its return stroke does not result in fouling of vide a dispensing device of the character mentioned that is simple and inexpensive and that is compact and pleasing in appearance.

The various objects and features of my inven tion will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompany drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved dispensing device provided by this invention. Fig. '2 is a side view of the device. vertical detailed sectional view of the device 11- lustrating the parts in the normal or unactuated positions and showing a portion of one side of the cabinet in elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged "7. is a view s'imilarto. Fig. 6 showing the towel being-'withdrawn from the cabinet and, Fig. 8

Fig. 3 is an enlarged be provided in one of the case sides M. Substantially vertical mounting plates 31 are arranged in the lower portion of the housing or cabinet H] to carry the ejecting mechanism, etc. The plates 3? are adjacent the case sides i4 and may have flanges or lips 28 secured to the bottom Hi.

The invention provides means for supporting the stack of towels T in the cabinet 10. This means includes a' substantially horizontal shelf 21 arranged in the cabinet IE3 at the inner surface of the front 18 and immediately above the discharge opening 2!. A roll 28 is provided along the rear edge of the shelf 2'! to assist in guiding the towels T through the opening 2!. Parts of the shelf 2'! may form the stationary cheeks of (is a fragmentary vertical detailed sectional'view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

The embodiment of the inventionillustrated jin"Figs'. l'to '7, inclusive, of the drawings, may

be saidto comprise, generally, a housing or cabj inet l0, fo'r'cont'ai ning a stack of folded sheet articles or towels T, an ejector II in the cabinet I8, means l2 for actuating the ejector H to eject the lowermost towel T for removal from the cabinet' Hi and a 'control or time delay means 53 associatedwith the ejector ll.

' cabinet I is'provided to contain the towels 'I andto houseand support thevarious other parts of thefdevice. The cabinet may be varied considerably in construction and design withoutdeparting from the invention. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the cabinet I0 is formed of sheet metal 'or the like, and is adapted to be attached to a vertical support such as awall, or thelike. The cabinet If! illustratedinthe drawings includes spaced vertical sides l4,fa back [5, a bottom It,

a top I! and a hinged front 18. The top ll may curve or slope downwardly and forwardly and f the bottom It may be generally horizontal. The bottom I6 is bent or'shaped to have a'substan- 'tially'vertical forwardly facing wall part land 7 "a downwardly facing wall 20 extending forward- 'ly from the part l9. A n elongate opening Zloccurs immediately in front of the wall 20 to provide for the'dis cha'rge of the towels T from the cabinet it. The opening 2! 'faces ldownwardly and forwardly 'and is atthe lower'edge of the cabinet front I8. I: .The front i8 is hinged at its lower edge to be swung between the closed position illustrated in the drawings and an;open position Where the interior of the cabinet lil is readily accessible.

" shelf 21.

the hinge for the front is. In the preferred construction the forward shelf 21 is quite narrow. As illustrated in the drawings the shelf 27 is engaged by the forward edge portion of the lowermost towel T to support the forward portion of the stack of towels. The towel supporting means further includes a rear shelf 29 for supporting the rear portion of, the stack of towels. The shelf 29 extends between the plates Bland may be supported on theupper edges of the spaced plates. Down-turned lips or flanges 39 on the shelf 29 may be received in notches in the plates 3? to hold the shelf in place. The forward major portion of the rear shelf 29 slopes downwardly and forwardly. The shelf 29 is'spaced rearwardly some distance from the forward shelf El and means is provided between thetwo shelves to assist in supporting the stack of towels T. In the preferred'construction this means comprises a horizontal rod or roller 3| extending across the interior of the cabinet H] in space-drelation to the spaced shelves. 2? and 26. The opposite end portions of the roller 3i are rotatably supported in openings 32. in' the plates 31. The roller 3| is spaced some distance forwardly from the rear shelf 29 'and lies in substantially the same horizontal plane as the forward shelf 21..

The sheet material articlespr towels Tyare generally rectangular members folded to each have a front fold 33 and a rear fold 34. [The folds 33 and 34 are folded back upon the under sides of the towels T and are of. substantial width. The opposing inner edges of the-folds 33 and 34 are spaced some distanceapart. The towels T are arranged in corresponding'positions in the cabinet l6 and are preferably substantiah ly horizontal. i

The invention provides novel and effective means for maintaining the towels T in the correct positions in the cabinet and for guiding the towels for ejection by the ejector II. This means includes a vertically extending guide'rib 35 on the inner surface of the case front 18. --'Ihe rib 35 is U-shaped or V-shaped in horizontal cross section and is spaced midway between the opposite vertical edges of the front [8. The rib 35 extends from the curved upper portion of the front I 8 to immediately adjacent the front Notches '39 are. provided in the for-: ward edges of e towe s Tito receive or cooper? ate with the rib 35; H Thereis one notch 39 in the folded forwardportion of each towel T and I the notches 39 of the stacked towels register to form a vertical groove which receives the guide 35. The notches 39 are shaped so that the rear edge or rearmost surface of the rib 35 engages the walls of the notches 39; This engagement of the guide 35 in the notches SQserVe's toinain-j tain the towels T in their proper positions and a towel T wipes the button; 58: clean and inner part or ar m of the operating lever 54 is freely received in a' corner notch 59 in the ejector. member 4| to be .free and independent of the ejector I I; A laterally projecting lug 6|] is provided on the inner arm of the lever 54. The ing 60 is adapted to cooperate with the under side of the ejector member 4| totransmit movement from the lever54gto the ejector The ilug 60 has a downwardly projecting portion carrying a bumper 6| of rubber, or the like; The

bumper 6| is adapted to engage the bottom |6 of the cabinet In to limit the return movement of the lever 54. The ejector member 4| is adapted to engage against v the lug 60 to limit the return movement of-theejector When the operating button 58 is depressed the lever 54 is pivoted and the lug 60 engaging against the ejector member 4| transmits movement from the lever to the ejector so that the ejector is swung or pivoted forwardly to eject the-fold 33 of the lowermost towel'T as above described. An outwardly projecting lateral lug 62; is provided on the inner arm of the operating lever '54 and carries a bumper 63-of rubber; or the like. The bumper 63 is i adapted to engage against the inner surface of the lever 54 and an extensible spring 65 has one end secured to the pin 64. The spring'65 extends rearwardly from the lever 54 and has its rear end secured to a clip 65 on the cabinet bottom |6. The spring 65 is under tension and is extended or elongated when the lever 54 is actuated. Upon the release of the actuating pressure on the lever button 58 the spring 65 serves to quickly return the lever 54 to its normal position, thus bringing the button 58 to the position where it will be wiped and dried by the towel T being withdrawn from the cabinet I0. It is important to note that the operating lever 54 of the means |2 is pivotally supported independently of the ejector H and returns to its normal position independently of the ejector. Upon the return of the lever 54 to its normal position the lug 60 moves rearwardly, away from the ejector member v4| so that the lever is entirely clear and free of V the ejector. the cabinet manually returnsthe lever 54 this ac- :tion can in no way affect the ejector In the event that the operator of The control or-time delay means l3 retards or delays the return of the ejector H to its normal position following each ejecting operation. The

ejector'll is incapable of engaging a towel fold '33 to eject the same through the opening 2| until and unless the ejector is in its fully retracted initial position at the start of the ejecting stroke. The time delay means l3 delaying 'or retarding the return of the ejector H to its normal position therefore makes it impossible to successfully operate the device for a fixed and selected period following the ejection andwithdrawal of a towel. It is an important feature of the invention that the means l3 allows free, substantially unrestrained return movement of the ejector 1|| during the first phase of its return stroke and serves to retard or delay the return movement during the second and finalphase of its return stroke. This feature assures the immediate withdrawal of the ejector member '42 and the roller 49 from the opening 2| to positions'within the cabinet l reinforcing strip 72 on the plate 31.

. able vertically in the slot 1 provided on therinner end of'the bolt 13 to rewhere they cannot be manually grasped or tampered with.-

- In accordance with. the broader aspects 'of the invention the time delay means 13 may be varied motion of the ejector In the illustrative form of the inventionshown in the drawings the means 3 is in the nature of acylinder and piston means or -a dashpot means. As illustrated, the means l3 comprises two elements, namely, a cylinder 61 and a plunger 68 operable in the cylinder. One of the elements 6'1 or 68 is connected with the ejector H to be moved thereby and the other element 61 or 58 is connected with the cabinet ||l or a suitable stationary object. In the arrangement shown in the drawings the cylinder 6'1 is pivotally mounted in the cabinet l0 and the piston 68 is connected'with the ejector The inner or rear end of the cylinder 61 is closed by ahead 69 and an angular bracket H1 is secured to the head 69. In the preferred construction the means I3 is adjustable or regulable so that it may retard or delay the completion of the returnstroke of the ejector II for any selected period; The cylinder 67 isadjustably or shiftably mounted to provide for this regulation'of the means l3. A vertical slot H is provided in the rear-portion of one of the mounting plates 31: The'slct may also pass through a. A pin or bolt 13 p asses'through the slot H and through an opening in the bracket 10. The bolt73 is shift- A slotted nut 14 is tain the bracketlf] on the bolt. The bracket 10 is freely turnable on the bolt 13 to permit pivoting of the cylinder 61 during operation of the ejector ll. *When the nut 14 is loosened the bolt 13 may be shifted vertically in the's'lot H to change the 'angle'of the cylinder 6l and therefore change the stroke of the means l3 as will be more fully described.

The piston 68 may befin the nature of a' rod provided at its rear end with a head or cup leather l5 operable in the cylinder 61. The rod or piston 68' passesthrough and is guided by a suitpart of the arm 5| to connect the piston with the ejector II. It will be seen that during the return movement of the ejector H the piston 68 moves rearwardly in the cylinder 57. The return spring 52 is preferably of substantial strength to return the ejector quite rapidly during the f rst portion'of its return stroke; As the piston 68 moves rearwardly in the cylinder 61 the air trapped behind the cup leather "i5 is compressed and offers resistance to inward movement of the piston 68. The air compressed in the cylinder 61 expands the cup leather-V75 into tighter'engage ment with the wall of the cylinder 6?. Throughout the final phase of return movement of the ejector the cup leather [5 seals with the wall of the cylinder 61 with only slight leakage so that the return motion of the ejector is mate rially retarded and delayed. The cupleather 15 s such that the compressed air trapped'behind US OW Yle'akS past thecup leather assuring the ob et he ieet r Dur n he ae ive r. e ec ee trokeiei he je tor l; e-1 1 p. ea he r s cont act t ermit. tree moveme t of t e iston. nd t eiector- 13y. adi st n th -r r end:

der. fi l-" ically in th mann r de;

scri ed above he tro e. of; the piston n he cylinder may be varied so. that the 11163118.].33011'1:

e ate to. de ay e. return .tro e-ofvt le t I an g-We i. lecte period.

\ I e use. or o era on-cr me dispensin dee. esQ be above the. bi e his. mounted s itable. supp rt and is; suppl ed with. a stack ft els- Th ont I8 maybe easilvswuns. to, its, or open position .to permit.the .-ready nsertion o t e. t wels .I' in; the. cabinet... When iuser. desir s to ob ainv a. towet-Them reiy presses; down. ni hei button. 5,8117 pivot the 1everl 4 1 11 fillstransmitsmoyement from. the. leve z jfiv to the. ejector l I: :and the; ejector swings forwardly. Durinstheforward movement of; the.

br u hq he; pe in ZI-to aposition Such. as. she in Fignor Theforward portion of the low: erm st; towel J is confined against the. shelf" 3? 3i confin d between? the member 42 a and; the low. al-lof thejopeningdl The fold 33 is thus hel wrapped entrained. aboutthe roller 419.:and; themenrh r HAW-hen projected through the openz'hfii seli mayconyeniently grasp the projected:

29M311 fold 3.3- or double thickness portion of the towel andpull forwardly on the same to remove thewlowermost towel?!" from the cabinet ID witho l dan er of partingortearing thetowel. The projected portionof the towelTibeingof double thickness. resists... tearing. and may. absorb .sub- S hnt al moisture. without. being weakened;

When. the towel Tis pulled forwardly through the ope. ng 121; its: forward portion isifirst freed from hQJ hBl 'l"-and-the body of the towel freely mqtesa ross the rotatable roller 3|. fold; 34; freely -slides;.offt the. shelf 29.-and passes under: the stationary roller 31.. moves forwardly the rear fold 34 straightensout. or.unfolds:..and then; passes over the roller 3|. t ma or. portion. of. :the towel. T i .unfolded for immediate use;

Immediately upon. the relaxation of: the aotua tion pressure-on the button 58 the sprin 651pivotstheleverifl; to. restore ,itto its normal positionn. practice .thelever 54 is returned to its. n rmal, position. while the towel T is being withdrawn. fromthe: cabinet Ill and theoutwardly movin towel-wipes; aorossthe top of the button 58yto clea n. and. dry the same. The button 58 is thus left in a dry sanitaryconditionfollowing each: operation of. thedevice. The operating lever .5. fl.1.returns to itsyinitial positionindependently 01 the ejector H.

When the lever 54 is released atw'the completion ofthe.ejectiontstroke the spring 52 serves .ng: 2|. Theimember, 42 and the. roller. a= m li p Qzl clithe. fold 3:3down and. out.

The rear As the towel T:

to swing or pivot the ejector I l toward its normal retracted position. The spring 52 operates to i i klw more; the ieet I I. rearwardlrimmer hefi; istr ket et ae e o er:- i ndp h membe it in he. ca inet.-

ra ped: behi d he cu l at 15 s. c mpr e as the pist9n;68.;moves. rearwardly and through out t e na or ion t heeiee ers t n s rokethe compressed air in the. cylinder 61 holds the u ea er m m t c-1: 1 sealing ga men h the twall or the .cylinder fiil The air trappedbehind the .cup lea-then l5 retards. the rearward motion of thepistom ti an i-tire ejector ll. This; tardati n of he e ums ok f e: el to H ont u to t ndefi he et r t kee. 1 J3 operating in thismannerdelays the returnofj the ejector I! to .it snormal position-for subs ant l given 1. ;at t me. AS escribedabove. the ejector. I l. isnot; conditionedto. ieet a ec nde nt h has re eh fully rctracted positronand as it does not reach hi qsi iem ntil e. lapse a si enme... e lowing a preceding operation, the device cannot;- e ope a n ap suc e ion t b a nnumberb i we e An attempt to obtain; .a; second towel T immee d tely f l o ing the r m sa g i one ow l ro the cabinet lfl merely returns theejector H to. its projected position without in any. way affectingthe lowermost; towel Tin thecabinet. When-- theiejeetor H {is moved; forwardly by an opera rior to.- the returner the:

tion; ofithe; lever.;g54 ejector. sw l r etreeted p sit e r; 8" ndt e m mber 2-m ve or ardl wit o en aging under the fold; 330a the lowermost: towel T. Accordingly, the forwardly moving ejector I I does. not project the fold. .33;from the pening Z l e weneese entw rt s h ejector I I must bee restored 'to its .-ful-lyretracted; position the spring; 52;beforethe device may.

be o er t t btai n the s t w i Th q els re. sta ked h and sup or a cabinet lio -1 11 such a manner that they cannot be. engaged or tampered with. 'I- helower-most. towel 'I'is abovetheopenine 2'!- and. the edge of its fold 33 is asubstantialdistance inwardly from the open naandean tbe emr r d h- The pe in d vi e m ybe. e a e ly op a e ias d scribed above until the supply of -towels T has been exhausted. I

Fig. 8' Of the drawings illustrates an alternative form of the invention in -which the operating" lever54 is permanently connected with the ejector H. The lever .54:and the ejector H may be connected in-anydesired manner. In the construction illustrated the lug-'60 on the lever 54 is secured to the ejector member 4| by rivets 80. The connection between. the lever 54 and the ejector I I: is such,- that these. two elements op.- erate.-. simultaneously during.- both the ejection stro e and the-return stroke of the ejector. The operation'of. the construction illustrated in Fig. 8 isthe same as thatof the previously described form of theinventionexcept that the lever. 54 returns to its normal position simultaneously with the return of the ejector H. Ifdesired or if necessary the lever-returning spring 65may be dis-i herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations of modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the .scop of the following claims.

Having describedmy invention, I claim:

1. A device for dispensing articles of sheet material comprising a cabinet for housing said articles and having a discharge opening, two elements, one an ejector for ejecting saidarticles through the opening, the other a manual operating member for operating the ejector, means for restoring the ejector to its initial position to condition it for subsequent operation, means for restoring the operating member to its initial position, and a time delay mechanism for retarding the restoration of one of said elements.

2. A device for dispensing articles of sheet material including a cabinet for said articles having a discharge opening, a movableejector in the cabinet operable to eject the articles through the opening, manual means ,for operating the ejector, means for returning the ejector to position for a subsequent operation, and a'time delay mechanism for delaying the return of the ejector the articles.

3.'A device'for dispensing articles of sheet material including a cabinet for said articles having a discharge opening, a movable ejector in the cabinet operable to eject the articles through the opening, a manually operated member for moving the ejector to eject the articles through the opening, the ejector and the said member being free forseparate movement to their nomal positions, means for restoring the ejector to its normal position, means for restoring the said member to its normal position, and a time delay mechanism for retarding the restoration of the ejector.

4. A device for dispensing sheet articles each having a fold, comprising a cabinet for containing the articles and having an opening, a shiftable ejector in the cabinet shiftable from its normal position to move the fold of an article through said opening to expose an article portion of double-thickness for engagement by the user, means for shifting the ejector, including a manually engageable operatingmember, means for returning the ejector to its normal position, the ejector being incapable of engaging an article to move the same except when in the said normal position, and a time delay mechanism for delaying the return of the ejector.

' 5. A device for dispensing sheet articles each having a fold, comprising afcabinet for containing the articles and having an opening, a shiftable ejector in the cabinet shiftable from its normal position to move the fold of an article through said opening for engagement by the user, means for shifting the ejector including a manually engageable operating member, means for returning the ejector to its normal position, the ejector being incapable of engaging the fold of an article to move the same except when in the said normal position, and a time delay mechanism for governing the return of the ejector only during the last portion of its return stroke.

6. A device for dispensing sheet articles each having a fold, comprising a cabinet for containing the articles and having an opening, a shiftable ejector in the cabinet shiftable from its normal position to move the fold of an article through said opening for engagement by the user, means for operating the ejector to move the fold of the article through said opening including a manually operable member supported for movement separately from the ejector, and

cooperable parts on the ejector and member for transmitting movement from the member to the ejector upon manual actuation of the member in one direction, spring means for moving the member in the other direction to return the same, spring means for returning the ejector, and a.

time delay device for retarding th action of the last named spring means.

7. A device for dispensing sheet articles each having a fold, comprising a cabinet for containing and completely housing the articles and having an opening, a shiftable ejector in the cabinet shiftable from its normal position to move the fold of an article through said opening for the lever positioned at the exterior of the cabinet normally adjacent the opening to be wiped by the sheet article at it is withdrawn from the cabinet, and means for returning the lever to its normal position following the operation.

8. A device for dispensing sheet articles having folds comprising a cabinet for containingthe articles and having an opening, a swingable' articulated ejector in the cabinet comprising an inner element, and a sheet engaging element movably connected with the inner element, means for swinging the ejector, and means for moving the said sheet engaging element of the articulated ejector relative to the said inner ejector element to engage the ejector in the fold of an article and project the fold through the opening.

9. A device for dispensing sheet articles having folds comprising a cabinet for the articles having an opening, means for supporting the articles in stacked relation with the fold of the lowermost article free but inaccessible from the exterior of the cabinet, a pivotable ejector in the cabinet including an inner member and an outer member pivoted to th inner member and spring-urged to bear toward the articles, means for pivoting the ejector toward the opening, means engaging the outer member during the pivoting of the ejector to cause said outer member to engage in the fold of the lowermost article and direct it out through said opening for withdrawal by the user, and means for returning the ejector to its normal position.

10. A device for dispensing sheet articles having folds comprising a cabinet for the articles hav ing an opening, means for supporting the articles in stacked relation with the fold of the lowermost article free, a shiftable ejector in the 

